How will the change of government affect architects?

Last week the King set out the new government’s plans for the country at the State Opening of Parliament. But what do Labour’s policies and legislation mean for architects? 

While we were pleased to see that home building and planning reform are central to Labour’s agenda, the fiscal fine print may have a less-than-favourable impact on the prime residential market.

Andrew Paulson, Partner, LA London

LA London Partner Andrew Paulson takes a closer look at some of Sir Keir Starmer’s plans and the impact they might have on the world of property, architecture and design.

Planning

As part of its mission to ‘get Britain building’, Labour’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes major changes to the National Planning Policy Framework. The government has resolved to speed up the planning process, reform compulsory purchase order rules, and support local planning authorities.

It has also promised to fund more planning officers and give authorities new powers and flexibility, acknowledging that ‘the current planning regime acts as a major brake on economic growth’.

For those of us who have experienced the myriad of frustrations from the existing planning system, it is certainly positive news. For many years now, the process of obtaining planning permission for building and renovation work has been needlessly complicated, highly time-consuming and increasingly prohibitively expensive.

Rural development

With many of LA London’s projects taking place in the UK’s most sought-after rural areas, we were interested to see the government addressing the impact of the green belt, which currently makes up around 12% of the country.  

Labour wants to release what it deems lower-quality ‘grey belt’ and brownfield land so that some building can take place on currently protected green belt areas. This may ease demand for land in areas of the UK where it is currently at a premium, making it easier for our clients to build and renovate homes in the countryside.

A recent LA London project in rural Surrey

Innovation and education

Simplifying planning and freeing up land may be positive steps towards ‘getting Britain building’, but the UK still faces a shortage in construction workers. According to a report from the Construction Skills Network earlier this year, more than 250,000 new workers are needed to meet UK construction output by 2028

Labour has announced a plan to convert Further Education Colleges into Technical Excellence Colleges, with funding allocated to help colleges specialise. It is unclear what advantage this specialist status would confer on colleges, or whether it will address the construction skills gap, particularly bearing in mind the ongoing fallout from Brexit.

On the innovation front, we were pleased to see the new government setting out its support for AI, removing planning barriers to new data centres to foster progress in this field.

Environment

The government has committed to supporting sustainable development by speeding up the use of carbon capture and the manufacturing of green hydrogen. Its Warm Homes Plan also includes grants and low-interest loans for insulation, solar panels and low-carbon heating. 

These initiatives chime with LA’s commitment to sustainable architecture and design. Ever since our founding we have taken pains to seek out the most sustainable products, materials and processes, and more recently we have begun measuring the embodied carbon life cycle of all our designs. 

“Ever since our founding we have taken pains to seek out the most sustainable products, materials and processes, and more recently we have begun measuring the embodied carbon life cycle of all our designs. ”

Eaton Square, where LA London completed a substantial refurbishment of a 22,000 square-foot property.

The economy

In its overarching bid to foster economic growth, the government is promising to support business investment by establishing a National Wealth Fund. It has also pledged to cap corporation tax at 25% and to ensure the UK remains a desirable place to do business. Many economists anticipate that the UK will start to be seen as a ‘safe haven’ on a global platform.

Economic growth and competitiveness can only be a good thing. However, Labour also plans to increase stamp duty for non-UK residents, and to abolish non-dom status. This potentially undermines the appeal of the UK, and specifically London, for international buyers and developers.

Looking ahead

Since its founding in 1981, LA London has seen nine different prime ministers and over thirty State Openings of Parliament. We’ve evolved and grown through boom and bust, austerity and prosperity – and in recent years we’ve also weathered the impact of Brexit and Covid. 

“We’ve evolved and grown through boom and bust, austerity and propserity – and in recent years we’ve also weathered the impact of Brexit and Covid.”

So while we welcome the proposed overhaul of the planning system and the new government’s commitment to renewable energy, we like to think that our sector-leading expertise, our valued network of partners, and our robust processes will keep us election-proof for many years to come.